Focus Cambodia shares our guide to the best places to get a drink in country's capital, Phnom Penh
Hops Craft Beer Garden
Cambodia’s nearest thing to a Munich beer hall, this expansive drinking-and-dining compound north of Independence Monument is not only German-owned; it also has a menu that features schnitzels, sausages and other hearty Central European fare. The primary Hops venue has a half-dozen seating areas, including a street-level beer garden; in all, there are four Phnom Penh locations. In each of them, the star attraction is the freshly brewed beer, including the top-fermented Amber Witch and the complex, higher-alcohol Red Fury.
hops-brewery.com
Sora Skybar
The jewel of the sky-bar scene soars 37 stories above the city, attracting a prosperous and fashionable crowd. Jutting out of Vattanac Capital Tower, home of the Rosewood hotel, the terrace is most popular at sunset, when the views across Phnom Penh are spectacular. Skilled bartenders can make any cocktail or recommend local beers and imported wines. Also on this level is the Iza robatayaki restaurant, serving Japanese tapas, and the ultra-stylish, Hemingway-inspired Whiskey Library. One floor higher is Cuts, a steak-and-seafood grill named “best restaurant in Cambodia” by Travel + Leisure magazine.
rosewoodhotels.com
Bar Odin
This classic speakeasy, hidden behind an unmarked door on a side street in the Phum Phnom Thom neighbourhood, harkens to the discreet izakaya of Tokyo and Osaka. Guests cluster at a single long bar or in an upper-storey VIP room to enjoy perhaps the best whisky selection in Cambodia, attended by a skilled bartender. A short menu of comfort foods assures that no one goes hungry.
facebook.com/barodinpp
Voodoo Blvd
Relocated from Kampot to the Wat Botum park area in 2022, Voodoo Blvd has quickly become one of Phnom Penh’s most popular cocktail lounges. From great drinks (the Purple Haze blends Khmer pepper vodka with fruit juices and homemade vanilla syrup) to Japanese fusion-style tapas (think okonomiyaki pork skewers), the Boulevard matches eclectic décor with frequent live music performances and genuinely friendly service.
facebook.com/VoodooBoulevard
Elephant Bar
It’s no accident that Cambodia’s most famous watering hole is in the Raffles Hotel Le Royal. The first Singapore Sling cocktail was concocted at the original Raffles in Singapore in 1915. The Phnom Penh property, which opened in 1929, came up with its own signature drink for US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1967: The Femme Fatale is a mix of champagne, cognac and crème à la fraise des bois (“wild strawberry cream”). Among the 50 different labels of gin served here today is the hotel’s own Elephant Bar Gin. Tapas and light meals are served all day beneath frescoes that depict elephants in lush jungle scenes.
rafflesphnompenh.com
Le Manolis
Come here to enjoy French heritage wines in a lovingly renovated colonial building: Could there be anything more like Paris in Phnom Penh? Located at Post Office Square, this old-school bistro has a warm, comfortable, vintage vibe, its wood furnishing framing a spacious central bar accented by a broad outdoor terrace. Several wines are served by the glass, including cabernet, beaujolais and chardonnay. Dozens more are served by the bottle. The bistro menu features cheeses, charcuterie and bavette steak frites.
facebook.com/lemanolis.pp
